Topic: Keith Bachman

Investment firm BMO Capital Markets was the latest to increase its Apple price target this week in the face of the stock's huge gains, which are forecast to continue with the success of the iPhone 6 and upcoming launch of the Apple Watch.

With Apple widely expected to launch a wearable "iWatch" later this year, market watchers have begun to speculate exactly how many wrist-worn devices the company could sell, with one new projection pegging the device with at least 10 percent penetration among iPhone users in the first full year.

Another analyst has countered recent reports that Apple plans to release a cheaper iPhone for the pre-paid mobile market, stating instead that the iPhone 3GS will continue to serve as the company's "low-end" handset.

Investment bank BMO Capital Markets on Monday slashed its price target on shares of Apple Inc. to $140 from $160, saying it believes the company's three growth drivers -- the Mac, iPod, and iPhone -- have been reduced to just one: the Mac.

Bank of America Securities this week joined a chorus of other Wall Street firms who say they believe Apple Inc. is working on flash-based notebook and video iPod designs for a release sometime later this year.

Apple Inc.'s install base of Mac OS X users will be approximately 22 million strong come the end of March, ahead of the company's next-generation Leopard operating system release, according to analysts at Bank of America Securities.

Prior to the weekend, Bank of America Securities increased its price target on shares of Apple Computer to $93 from $84, citing expectations of strong growth in the company's notebook segment during the 2008 fiscal year.

Bank of America on Friday reduced its estimates slightly for Apple Computer's March quarter and next two fiscal years, pointing to unanswered questions about the company's potential to grow its share of the personal computer market and hints of weaker computer sales.